A yearly dental cleaning is one of the more important parts of your companion’s health care. Sadly by age three the majority of cats have dental disease. If your kitty is in good health and your veterinarian has checked your cat’s blood work then anesthetic for a dental procedure comes with very little risk.

If your cat happens to be sick however, a dental cleaning may not be a good idea until they are well. Heart conditions, lung disease and kidney failure all present anesthetic challenges.

First you want to choose a veterinarian you can trust to make the right decision. A mild case of tartar and gingivitis can usually be put off until your kitty is well. If your cat has severe dental disease your veterinarian may need to balance the benefit with the risk.

In the case of a permanent heart condition, renal issues, lung disease etc. your cat may still be able to have its teeth cleaned yearly. Your veterinarian will need to take special precautions when anesthetizing your cat. These precautions may include IV fluids prior to anesthesia for kidney support in the case of renal disease. If your cat has a heart condition your kitty will need additional monitoring under anesthesia. If your cat has lung disease your veterinarian may use an inhaler prior to anesthesia and special medications to help your cat through the dental procedure.

Again when deciding to anesthetize a cat with known medical issues, your veterinarian should weigh the positives and negatives before deciding to proceed. You may worry that your companion will have trouble under anesthesia. This worry is very common and can be compared to a fear of flying. Although tragedy is always possible in both situations it’s very rare.